Midnight…Anamika’s houseThe house lay wrapped in silence.
Anamika was fast asleep in her room, but Saaniya’s eyes were wide open, haunted.
In her trembling hands was the envelope Anamika had glanced at in the morning but left unopened.
Saaniya exhaled a weary sigh, whispering to herself, “I should never have changed my surname… never given up my legal rights. If I hadn’t, I could’ve signed these papers myself. But now… only Anamika can. And how… how am I supposed to tell her?!”
Her thoughts dragged her back to the previous night.
The mental hospital.
That man—an old, frail figure lying in bed. His hollow eyes staring into nothingness.
A doctor, much older than her, had spoken gravely in the cabin: “His condition is worsening. We need surgery immediately. But the risk to his life is high. Legally, we need his family’s signature on the consent papers.”
Back in her room now, Saaniya gazed out of the window.
The moon was slipping behind the clouds, and she whispered, almost breaking, “How do I tell her this? That man… all he carries for Anu is hatred. And Anu—if she ever found out, she’d run to him. I can’t let that happen. He could destroy her…”
Her memory burned with the image of fourteen-year-old Anamika—tears streaming, bruises on her neck, trembling hands begging for mercy from the very man who had tried to kill her.
Her fists clenched.
“No matter what… Anu must never know about his condition. I’ll get her to sign these papers without her ever realizing what they’re for.”
While Saaniya wrestled with secrets in the darkness, elsewhere—
Outside the office…
Ruhi stepped out into the midnight streets, her nerves on edge.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
It was past midnight, and she couldn’t find a cab online. Aditya was still working at the office, but she couldn’t ask him to drop her because she was heading to Rudra’s place. If she went there with Aditya, she would have to explain why—and that was the last thing she wanted.
So she decided to step outside, hoping to catch a cab or auto nearby. But the road outside was even lonelier, sending a shiver down her spine.
Scrolling endlessly on her phone for a ride, she kept glancing around, her eyes restless.
She hadn’t gotten far from the office when suddenly, a car stopped right in front of her. Startled, Ruhi instinctively stepped back. Her fear, however, she quickly masked behind her confident expression.
The car door opened. Without a second thought, she yanked her pepper spray and fired at the figure stepping out.
A piercing scream tore through the night.
Ruhi blinked in horror. “Rudra?!”
He staggered back, clutching his burning eyes, hissing in pain.
Ruhi rushed to him, guilt written all over her face.
“Oh my God—I’m so sorry! I thought—”
“You thought?! I’ll tell you what I thought—my eyes thought they were on fire!” Rudra barked, his voice strained.
He winced, trying not to touch his face.
“Water, Ruhi! For God’s sake, do you have water?!”
Fumbling, Ruhi pulled out her bottle—thankfully filled with cold water.
Rudra splashed it over his eyes, sighing in relief. Ruhi then carefully cleaned his face with paper soap, her hands trembling. Slowly, his pain eased.
In the car…
Minutes later, the two sat inside his car.
The AC blasted cold air while Rudra’s red, watery eyes glared accusingly at her.
Ruhi sat hunched like a guilty child, fingers twisting together, her throat tight with unshed tears.
“I… I’m really sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to—”
When Rudra turned to look at her, he saw her eyes glistening, ready to spill tears. A smile tugged at his lips.
“Well, my eyes have already cried enough for both of us, sweetheart. Don’t waste your tears. Besides, it was self-defense. Any girl would’ve done the same if someone suddenly pulled up at midnight. If a fool like me can’t even understand that, then maybe my eyes deserved the punishment!”
Rudra expected her to deny it dramatically, like in some classic romcom. But instead…
“Exactly!” Ruhi snapped, lifting her chin. “This is your fault! Who barges out of a car in the middle of the night and scares a girl like that? You ruined my night!”
Rudra blinked in surprise.
“Wait, what?! You think this is my fault?!”
“Of course! You should’ve warned me. Instead you show up, trying to play the hero. Tell me, Rudra—why did you come here at all?!”
Rudra’s reply shot out faster than lightning, “Because I was worried about you!”
Silence fell between them.
Ruhi turned her face away, while Rudra scolded himself silently— “What did I just say?! This is the first time my heart has spoken louder than my mind… Rudra, control your tongue!”
He forced a casual tone, “Look… if a girl is staying at my place, her safety is my responsibility—”
“It’s not your responsibility!” Ruhi cut him off. Her voice was sharp, her eyes fierce. “My safety is mine alone.”
Rudra hesitated.
“Yes, that’s true… but what can I do? My hero syndrome doesn’t seem to go away. I can’t be a side character every time. Just once—let me be the hero!”
Ruhi stared at him for a long moment before replying, “You can’t be a hero… not with those red eyes, at least.”
Rudra pulled a face.
“And whose fault is that?!”
“Blame your stupid hero syndrome!” she shot back with a confident smirk.
Starting the car, Rudra grumbled, “Next time, at least check before spraying me.”
Ruhi raised an eyebrow, mocking, “Oh sure, so I can give the attacker plenty of time to kill me before I spray him. Great idea!”
Rudra groaned, “Oh come on! You’re impossible!”
“Just drive properly.” she said, eyes fixed outside.
Rudra smiled faintly, “As you wish, my lady…”
And the car rolled off into the night toward Rudra’s house.
